John vetteelein



OFFICE,

JOHN VETTERLEIN, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,033, dated November16, 1875; application filed October 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VETTERLEIN, of Pla-infield, in the county ot'Union and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improve` ment inGate-Latches, of which the following,` is a specification The presentinvention relates to that class of latches in which there is avertically sliding` bar with slots through which the attachingboltspass; and the invention consists in combining, with thevertically-moving latch and latch-block, provided with handles, aslotted case that sustains such latch, a cap to exclude moisture7 androllers around the supportingscrews, upon which the latchmoves. The endof the latch projects through the case, to enter the notch in thedouble-inclined catch on the opposite post. This construction allows theVlatch to be placed at either edge of the gate,

and the latch is operative when the gate opens in either direction.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section. Fig. 2 is an elevation,partially' in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan; and Fig. 4 is anelevation of the double-inclined catch.

The latch is made of the slotted bar a, from which the handles b projectat each side 5 and the latch-block c projects from the face of the bar aat the upper end thereof. The case d is of a size to allow the bar a toslide in it freely. It is slotted at the sides to allow the `handles bto pass out, and there is an opening for the latch-block c, whichopening is of sufficient 4length to allow for the vertical movement of ithe latch and there is a cap-piece, h, at the upper end of the case,that protects the latch, and prevents the latch being obstructed by anaccumulation of snow or ice. The case el is provided with projectingflanges t', through whichthe attaching-screwspassinto the woodwork.There are also screws l, that pass through the body of the case d, andaround which are the rollers o, within the slot ot' the latch-bar a.These rollers serve to lessen the friction ot'thelatch-bar as it movesvertically, and it is preferable to employ a back plate, r, of metalbetween the sliding bar a and the wood-work. The catch-plate s is madewith the outside inclines 2 2, for liftinbr the latchbara and its blockc; but, instead of the saidinclines 2,terminatin,g` at the notch 3,'thatreceives the block c, as heretofore usual, I introduce the downwardinclines 4 4 between the upward inclines 2 and such notch 3, in orderthat the latch-bar may have an opportunity to coinmence to fall beforereaching this notch 3., and thereby lessen the risl; of the block cjumping` across the notch 3, instead of falling into the same.

rThis latch is very simple in its construction,

cheap, durable, easily applied, and reliable in its action. p

I claim as my invention- 1. The vertically-sliding slotted bar a,latchblock o, and handles b, in combination with the slotted latch-cased, cap-plate h, screws Z, and rollers o, as and for the purposes setforth.

2. The catch-plate s, made with the descending inclines 4 4 between thenotch 3l and the ascending inclines 2 2, for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 14th day of October, A. D. 1575.

JOHN VETTERLEIN.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PlNcKNEY, CEAS. H. SMITH.

